Cigarette compression device

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for use with a cigarette including tobacco, including compression of tobacco to provide a passageway of lower density tobacco or a void of tobacco, the method or apparatus configured to adjust along a longitudinal axis of the cigarette. Method and apparatus configured to reversibly utilize a plurality of physical dimensions.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/991,665, filed Nov. 30, 2007, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to cigarettes and more specifically a cigarette compression device.

BACKGROUND

The term cigarette includes a small quantity of cut tobacco extending longitudinally, bounded on its sides by paper or other combustible casing and a cross-section usually of cylindrical shape, although the shape may be oval or elliptical.

During the combustion of hydrocarbons of the type found in tobacco, two types of reaction take place, namely pyrolytic reactions and oxidation-reduction reactions. The pyrolytic reaction includes distillation, dehydrogenation, cracking, rearrangement, and condensation. The products of the pyrolytic reaction occurring in a given substance and their characteristics may be determined mainly, and possibly solely, by combustion temperature and the time at such burn temperature.

The oxidation-reduction reaction includes reaction of the hydrocarbons with oxygen in an exothermic reaction. The extent and products of the oxidation-reduction reaction may depend mainly, and possibly solely, on the combustion temperature, the degree of oxidation, and the rate of gas flow through the combustion zone.

The quantity and type of the product of the pyrolytic and oxidation reduction reactions may be affected substantially, if not solely, by the burn temperature, the time at that burn temperature, and the rate of gas flow from the combustion zone. An increased gas flow may have an enhanced effect upon the oxidation reactions since the latter are exothermic.

SUMMARY

A cigarette compression device for use with a cigarette including tobacco, including a compressor defining a cavity; and a mandrel adjustably attached to the compressor, at least a portion of the mandrel located within the cavity, the mandrel configured to compress the tobacco, the mandrel configured to provide a passageway within the tobacco, the passageway including either lower density tobacco or a void of tobacco, the mandrel configured to adjust along a longitudinal axis of the cigarette.

A method of slowing the burn rate or lowering the burn temperature of a cigarette including tobacco, including the steps of providing a compressor including a mandrel configured to compress tobacco, the mandrel configured to adjust in length in relation to the compressor, compressing tobacco into more densely packed tobacco by use of the mandrel, and defining a passageway within the tobacco, the passageway including either a lower density of tobacco or a void of tobacco, the passageway defined within the more densely packed tobacco.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette compression device in use with a cigarette as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cigarette compression device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the cigarette compression device as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cigarette compression device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the cigarette compression device as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a typical cigarette prior to use with the cigarette compression device.

FIG. 7 is a cigarette after use with the cigarette compression device.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

Referring to FIG. 1, device 10 is shown including holder 20 and compressor 30. As shown in FIG. 1, cigarette 40 is enclosed within device 10. Optionally, compressor 30 may include clip 31 so that it may be secured in a shirt pocket, in a manner similar to a pen clip.

Referring to FIG. 2, compressor 30 is shown in greater detail. Compressor 30 includes mandrel 32 and body 34 coupled to mandrel 32. Mandrel 32 may include probe 33, such as a tip, projection or any other insertion device. Mandrel 32 may comprise any material such as metal. Mandrel 32 is shown to include probe 33 and shoulder 38.

Referring back to FIG. 1, mandrel 32 (FIG. 2) is configured to compress tobacco within cigarette 40. When a cigarette is inserted over mandrel 32 the result creates passageway 48 (FIG. 7) within the tobacco of the cigarette. Passageway 48 includes either less dense tobacco or void of tobacco. Mandrel 32 is configured to adjust in length longitudinally relative to compressor 30, thus allowing for varying the space between holder 20 and mandrel 32 to accommodate different sized cigarettes and/or provide different levels of compression. Mandrel 32 may include an adjusting mechanism such as thread for screwing in relation to compressor 30. The adjusting mechanism may include a head for rotating mandrel 32 or compressor 30. Mandrel 32 may also include an adjustment measurement system such as color coded markings (defining length measurement) on the outer surface of compressor body 34 that indicate the length of the interior space for holding a cigarette.

Mandrel 32, or a portion of mandrel 32 such as probe 33, may also be configured to adjust in thickness or diameter (hereinafter referred to as thickness). Mandrel 32 may adjust in thickness along the transverse length of mandrel 32 or probe 33. A user may adjust the physical dimensions of mandrel 32 by changing out mandrels 32 of different thickness within compressor 30. In an alternative embodiment, mandrels 32 are adjustable by using a coil mechanism (not shown) to vary its outer circumference.

As previously mentioned and referring back to FIG. 2, mandrel 32 also includes shoulder 38. Shoulder 38 may also cause compression of cigarette 40. As shown in FIG. 1, shoulder 38 may cause compression of tobacco 44 (FIG. 6) within cigarette 40 along the longitudinal axis of cigarette 40.

Body 34 is shown in FIG. 2 as a cylindrical shape defining cavity 36. Cavity 36 is configured to hold cigarette 40 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, several measurements are shown each as separate embodiments of lengths, sizes, and dimensions of compressor 30. As shown in FIG. 3, mandrel 32 may be located substantially in the center of body 34. As shown, mandrel 32 is in the center of body 34 such that use of device 10 provides an passage of low density tobacco or void of tobacco surrounded by compressed tobacco.

Referring now to FIG. 4, holder 20 is shown. Holder 20 includes abutment 22, walls 24, cigarette holder 26, and plug 28. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, cigarette 40 (FIG. 1) is held adjacent to abutment 22. Similar to mandrel 32 (FIG. 2), abutment 22 may be configured to adjust in length. Abutment 22 holds cigarette 40 in place and allows for insertion of mandrel 32 within the tobacco of cigarette 40.

Referring now to any combination of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, during insertion of compressor 30 (FIG. 2) into holder 20 (FIG. 4), body 34 (FIG. 2) is enclosed or substantially enclosed within walls 24 (FIG. 4). Cigarette holder 26 is disposed within cavity 36 of compressor 30. As shown in FIG. 1, cigarette walls 26 hold cigarette 40 in place. Similar to mandrel 32, cigarette walls 36 are configured to adjust in thickness or diameter. Cigarette walls 36 may adjust in thickness to simulate abutment 22. As shown in FIG. 4, several measurements are shown each as separate embodiments of lengths, sizes, and dimensions of holder 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, walls 24 and cigarette holder 26 are shown. Walls 24 are shown comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), although other plastics and/or metals may be alternatively used. Cigarette holder 26 is shown comprised of polymers such as Tygon®, although other plastics and/or metals may alternatively be used.

Now referring to FIG. 6, as shown, cigarette 40 is shown prior to use with cigarette compression device 10. Loosely packed tobacco 44 is shown included within cigarette 40. Now referring to FIG. 7, cigarette 42 is shown after use with cigarette compression device 10. More densely packed tobacco 46 is shown. Densely packed tobacco 46 also defines low density tobacco passageway 48 or void of tobacco passageway 48 as previously discussed. Also, cigarette 42 defines void 50 caused by shoulder 38.

Cigarette 42 experiences changes in operation. When a user draws on cigarette 42, some of the air traveling through cigarette 42 bypasses more densely packed tobacco 46. This change makes flow through more densely packed tobacco 46 less than flow through loosely packed tobacco 44 of typical cigarette 40. Because of the reduction in flow through more densely packed tobacco 46, the burn temperature of more densely packed tobacco 46 is also lower. Because of the better heat conductivity provided by more densely packed tobacco 46, the average maximum and idling temperatures are further reduced. and the corresponding burn rate through more densely packed tobacco 46 is slower. Moreover the burn rate is further reduced to the extent that the more densely packed tobacco 46 interferes with convective flow. In operation, cigarette 42 is capable of experiencing 100% longer idling time than cigarette 40 per unit weight of tobacco.

Furthermore, the shape and density of more densely packed tobacco 46 (and/or the shape and density of low density tobacco passageway 48 or void of tobacco passageway 48) can be modified to the user's preference by selection and/or adjustment of mandrel 32, as described above.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains. 

1. A cigarette compression device for use with a cigarette including tobacco, comprising: a compressor defining a cavity; and a mandrel adjustably attached to the compressor, at least a portion of the mandrel located within the cavity, the mandrel configured to compress the tobacco, the mandrel configured to provide a passageway within the tobacco, the passageway including either lower density tobacco or a void of tobacco, the mandrel configured to adjust along a longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the mandrel includes thread.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the mandrel includes length measurement.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the length measurement includes color coded markings.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the mandrel is configured to slow the burn rate and lower the burn temperature of the cigarette by providing the passageway.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the mandrel includes a coil mechanism to vary an outer circumference of the mandrel.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the compressor is configured to reversibly couple to at least one mandrel of a plurality of mandrels.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein each mandrel of the plurality of mandrels includes physical dimensions of differing scope.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the physical dimensions include shape, length, thickness, or diameter.
 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising the compressor having a body configured to hold the cigarette, the body configured to fit within the cavity with the at least a portion of the mandrel and the cigarette.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the body is configured to adjust in relation to the compressor along the longitudinal axis of the body.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the compressor includes a clip.
 13. A method of slowing the burn rate or lowering the burn temperature of a cigarette including tobacco, comprising the steps of: providing a compressor including a mandrel configured to compress tobacco, the mandrel configured to adjust in length in relation to the compressor, compressing tobacco into more densely packed tobacco by use of the mandrel, and defining a passageway within the tobacco, the passageway including either a lower density of tobacco or a void of tobacco, the passageway defined within the more densely packed tobacco.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of adjusting the mandrel in relation to the compressor.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of adjusting the density of the more densely packed tobacco by the step of adjusting the mandrel.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the mandrel includes color coded markings to indicate the position of the mandrel in relation to the compressor.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing the compressor having a body configured to reversibly couple to at least one mandrel of a plurality of mandrels.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of mandrels include different physical dimensions.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one mandrel is used to define the passageway.
 20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of slowing the burn rate and lowering the burn temperature of the cigarette by providing the passageway. 